Chelsea transfer stance as ambitious plan involving Cristiano Ronaldo emerges

Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr have signed Cristiano Ronaldo and Jhon Duran, among other Premier League talents, but Chelsea could yet stand in their way of another swoop

Chelsea could find themselves forced into sales this summer if they miss out on Champions League qualification, and a deal with Al-Nassr for Moises Caicedo has been suggested as one way they may be able to balance the books. However, the Blues are understood to have no plans to part ways with their record signing.

Al-Nassr have raided the Premier League on more than one occasion in recent years, most notably signing Cristiano Ronaldo after his Manchester United contract was ended by mutual consent. Aymeric Laporte, Jhon Duran and former Chelsea youngster Angelo Gabriel are among the others to move from England to Riyadh, but it looks as though Caicedo won't be the veteran's newest team-mate.

Chelsea have also offloaded the likes of Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly to Saudi Pro League sides in recent years. According to football.london, though, Caicedo won't be following suit.

Blues boss Enzo Maresca values Caicedo very highly, saying earlier this month: “In this moment I think he is one of the best or the best defensive midfielders in the world. He is doing fantastic.

“The best thing about Moi is that everyday he is working serious, he is very humble, very kind, he is polite, he is a fantastic guy.”

Chelsea fought off competition from the likes of Liverpool to bring Caicedo to Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023. The £115million fee for the former Brighton midfielder is a Premier League record, topping the £107million the same club paid for Enzo Fernandez months earlier.

The Ecuador international played 35 of Chelsea's 38 league games last season as they finished sixth, and has started every single game in the competition this term. Caicedo has captained the team twice in the league and twice in cup competitions, including a Conference League play-off - one of four outings in the club's first European campaign under Maresca.

Caicedo was an unused substitute as the London side won 3-0 away to Legia Warszawa in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final last week with Noni Madueke scoring twice. Manager Maresca is expected to name a rotated squad once more, with midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - a player with just 253 league minutes this term - speaking to the media ahead of the second leg.

"It’s a new game and we can’t think too much about the first leg," Dewsbury-Hall said. "It’s now about going to Stamford Bridge and stamping our authority on the game again, trying to come away with another win.

"We can’t use the three-goal cushion as any excuse or leeway for dropping our standards. It’s about going again and putting on a show for our fans."